2023, Vol. 10, Issue 2, Part H

Hamstring tightness is significant contributor to lumbar spine problem, low back pain, Patellofemoral pain and other musculoskeletal issue. Prevalence of hamstring tightness is high in college going students. PNF stretching technique integrate active muscle contraction into stretching maneuver to inhibit or facilitate muscle activation to improve flexibility. The sub occipital muscle inhibition technique is method of relaxing the fascia by applying soft tissue pressure to the suboccipital region of the head, which increases hamstring flexibility through reflexive relaxation of my fascia as hamstring and sub occipital muscle and hamstring connect through a fascial linkage.

Method: 50 subjects who fulfilled selection criteria were randomly divided into two groups (25 in each). Group A received sub occipital muscle inhibition technique and Group B received PNF stretching (Contract relax method). Outcome measures Passive knee extension test and Back Saver Sit and Reach test were measured before and after the treatment intervention. The treatment was given for 6 consecutive days.

Result: Statistical analysis for between groups was done using independent t test. Sub occipital muscle inhibition technique and PNF stretching were having significant effects on PKET and BSSRT in both groups. The final analysis proves that both the groups were clinically significant but it shows non –significant difference between the groups. (P value > 5%).

Conclusion: The present study concludes that sub occipital muscle inhibition technique and PNF stretching both are equally effective in improving hamstring flexibility in college going students.